Ludhiana, November 6
The 13th National Conference of Agricultural Research Statisticians with a significant theme of “Research in Agricultural Statistics and Computer Applications — Status and Challenges Ahead” started at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here today.

As many as 250 scientists, statisticians, researchers, technologists, economists and planners from all over the country are participating in the conference. The conference was inaugurated at Pal Auditorium here today and is aimed at providing a common forum for the exchange of views on the latest developments and problems relating to research and teaching in the discipline of agricultural statistics.

Delivering his keynote address the chief guest, Prof N.S. Sastry, Director General, National Sample Survey Organisation, New Delhi said such type of conferences were the need of the hour as many topics were taken up such conferences that required to be addressed in the coming years.

He said a critical review of the current agricultural statistics had revealed several areas of deficiencies. He said a primary worker who was engaged in the collection of agricultural statistics was entrusted with multifarious activities and as a result he was overburdened. ICS findings revealed that the number of villages per primary worker ranged from two in Tamil Nadu to 15 in Bihar. A Patwari had to cover about 1,400 survey numbers in Maharashtra to 3,200 survey numbers in Haryana.

Professor Sastry further said due to this heavy burden on the Patwari it was natural that the quality of agricultural statistics was affected adversely. He also said the nine-fold classification of land use based on village records was not adequate and did not provide information on such characteristics as social forestry, marshy and water logged land and built upland.

The Director General also laid special emphasis on the use of computers in the system of agricultural statistics. “The system of agricultural statistics is vast and data collection and the transmission of data are an integral part of the system.”

He also added that the computerisation had reduced the workload of a patwari to the extent that now he does not have to record the permanent columns of the “Khasra” register.

Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, inaugurated the conference which would conclude on November 8.

According to Dr B.S. Arora, the organising secretary and Head of the Department of Mathematics, the conference would list the recommendations as an outcome of the conference and would send it to the
ICAR.

Ludhiana, November 6“The modern communication technology consisting of computers, Internet, satellites etc cannot replace but supplement the traditional media for the popularisation of schemes and technologies among the masses in India.”

These were the views of Dr K.S. Sekhon, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), while inaugurating an advanced state-level training workshop on ‘Enhancing science coverage in mass media’. It was organised by the Communication Centre in collaboration with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh, at PAU here today.

Dr Sekhon advocated the balanced use of traditional and modern communication technologies. Substantiating his point, Dr Sekhon said the effects of the current practice of burning paddy straw on environment and human health must be brought to the notice of the people before they were advised not to burn it but to incorporate it in the soil.

Dr G.S. Nanda, Director (Research), PAU, who presided over the inaugural session, said for popularisation of science and technology among the people, the understanding of their language, customs, traditions, normal and taboo was a prerequisite. He advised the scientists to understand these social aspects before venturing to write on scientific topics for the matter.

Dr Neelam Gulati Sharma, Principal Scientific Officer, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, said a scientist might not be an able writer and journalist might not understand the scientific principles properly. Therefore, the present workshop had been planned to bring these two competence together in order to produce better results.

Dr Surjit Singh Gill, Additional Director Extension, Education (Communication centre), PAU, and coordinator of the workshop, said the workshop had been sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Scientists from
various universities of Punjab would participate in the workshop and would be given on-the-job training for writing articles, news stories for newspapers and scripts for television and radio.

Dr Gyan Singh from the National Institute of Science Communication, New Delhi, Dr D.P. Singh from Government Shivalik College, Naya Nangal, Dr Manoj Parairiya from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Dr R.D. Sharma from the National Institute of Agricultural and biological Sciences, New Delhi, will conduct the workshop. Besides, Mr Om Gouri Dutt Sharma from Doordarshan Kendra, Jalandhar, Mr H.S. Batalavi from the All-India Radio, Jalandhar, and Mr Darshan Singh Makkar, News Editor, Daily Ajit, Jalandhar, will address the participants.

Dr K.S. Bath, Senior Scientific Officer, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, said articles written by participants would be published in the from of a book.

Mr M.S. Grewal, a farmers, also shared his ideas with the participants and a video film based on his experiences of innovative farming was also screened on the occasion.

Ludhiana, November 6
The campaign for elections to the Punjab Agricultural University Employees Union reached its peak today, when both the contesting parties including Maur-Amrit team and Deol team held rallies in front of the Thapar Hall and Veterinary College, PAU, respectively here today.

Thousands of employees came to attend the rallies in groups shouting slogans in favour of their parties.

Addressing a gathering, the candidate campaigning for the office of the president of the Union, Mr D.P. Maur, elaborated their main achievements, such as paying of Rs 40 as special allowance to clerks, senior clerks, steno-typists and other grade ‘C’ employees and Rs 80 to senior assistants; abolition of departmental examinations; implementation of G-4 pattern w.e.f. 1-1-1986; merger of junior scale stenographers; study leave for non-teaching staff only in PAU; employees welfare scheme; fee concession to wards of employees; 75 per cent of seats in PAU School reserved for wards of employees; exemption of science; Punjabi and selection grade for A.C.P. Scheme; advance of 80 per cent of expenses on medical treatment; opportunity to opt pension from CPC before 3 years of retirement; promotional increment to personal assistants and restoration of promotional posts.

Explaining the targets during the next years, the candidate for the post of general secretary, Mr Amrit Pal said that Time Bound Personal Promotion policy was the main target. Along with this, complete implementation of secretariat pattern; G-4 for Tractor Drivers; double allowances to all drivers; implementation of this decision of local committee to give pay parity of Lab Attendants with P.O./Fieldman; implementation of the decision of local committee to include left-over categories along with drivers etc in G-4 pattern; incentive increments; regularisation of 63-day agitation period; areas of G-4 pattern wef 1-3-1992 etc are some of the other main items on their agenda.

A massive rally was also held by the PAU Employee’s United Front, near veterinary college, PAU today. Thousands of employees, including women staff participated in the rally.

Mr M.R. Passi, General Secretary, PAU Supervisory Association, declared full support to the United Front.

Mr Avtar Singh Deol, presidential candidate of the United Front, addressed the United Front rally and promised to regularise the 63-day strike period, restoration of secretarial pattern for ministerial staff, upgradation of lab attendants in the ratio 2:1, Enhancing of special allowance to Jeep/Car drivers, merger of tractor drivers in G-4, implementation of Grade 2,000-3,500 to senior assistants. Assured Career Scheme, 8-16-24-32 on old qualifications, Rs 40 and Rs 80 allowance to all steno typists/lab attendants and other ‘C’ Grade employees within a month. Mr Deol further promised arrears to G-IV staff, merger of left out categories in G-4, removal of anomalies in G4, creation of Superintendent Grade-II posts, one increment to merged accountants/JSS within three months.

Among the English speakers, Sohil Juneja of the host school was declared first. Vijeta Tangra of Green Land Senior Secondary School won the second prize and the third prize went to Poonam Panesar of Guru Harkrishan Public School. Monica of BVM Senior Secondary School was given consolation prize.

Among the speakers in Hindi, Deepti of BCM Senior Secondary School, Urban Estate, clinched the first prize, Aakriti of BVM Senior Secondary School was declared second and Poonam of Spring Dale Public School won third prize. Priyanka of BCM Senior Secondary School, Jamalpur, and Gurpreet of GGN Public School won consolation prizes.

Ludhiana, November 6
In an effort to boost educational facilities in the state, the State Education Department has decided to set up as many as 36 model schools in the district by the next session. While Ludhiana is the first district to acquire the project, other districts are likely to follow the pattern.

In a written communication to the District Education Department, Mr Jagtar Singh, DPI (secondary schools) has stated that model schools would be set up in the existing senior secondary schools. He said the main purpose of setting up these schools would be imparting education in English medium. The schools would be provided with sufficient staff for teaching in English medium, besides apparatus for conducting science and vocational practicals.

As per the list of selected schools received by the department, three of the city’s schools figure in the list. These include Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School at Bharat Nagar, Government Senior Secondary School for Boys at Jawahar Nagar and Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School on Cinema Road.

Officers of the Education Department said that the scheme was being started so that students from government schools who opted for higher studies in maths, science and other subjects did not face problem of grasping the concepts in English medium at the college level. They revealed that the scheme was being mooted after several students and parents had complained about the problem mentioned above to the State Education Department officers.

Some officers also revealed that the only hurdle in the scheme was acquiring sufficient staff for teaching in English medium. They said that at present, most of the schools, especially in the rural areas, were understaffed and much more staff was required for transforming them to model schools. Therefore, they said that more stress would be laid on the teaching and development of students from Classes IX to XII in the initial stage.

Officers said that even though the schools already had the apparatus to conduct practicals of science and vocational courses, these schools would be supplied more funds to buy the latest apparatus and get the old stock repaired. The exact amount to be allocated for the purpose has not been fixed, they said.

While currently there are just four model schools in the city being run by the government at Model Town, Cemetry Road, Dholewal and inside the campus of Punjab Agricultural University, the 36 new schools are likely to add much to the existing educational facilities of the district.

Ludhiana, November 6
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, to deliver the possession of Plot No 722-F to Mr Baljinder Singh, a resident of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, and to execute its sale deed within 15 days of the receipt of the order. The forum has also directed the trust to pay Rs 500 as cost of litigation to the complainant.

According to the complaint, Plot No 722-F of 490 square yards was allotted to Mr Baljinder Singh in lieu of Plot No 594-F which was allotted to him in January, 1985. Mr Baljinder Singh disclosed that the trust had given possession along with possession letter but the plot belonged to some other person. After that the consumer had made full and final payment and even submitted an agreement as per the condition of the allotment letter in May, 2000, the agreement was not executed, he added.

The consumer stated that he met trust officials and even wrote letters, but the matter remained pending. He disclosed that the plot was allotted on land possession, which was not obtained by the trust, and acquisition proceedings were challenged in the civil court. He said earlier Plot No 721-F, which was in the same scheme, was offered to him which was already allotted to Mr Vidya Sagar. After that Plot No 722-F was allotted to him.

The consumer alleged that despite many requests for execution of sale agreement and possession, the trust failed to do so. It was alleged that the consumer was defrauded and harassed. The consumer demanded from the forum to direct the trust to give possession of Plot No 722-F and to execute the agreement.

The trust pleaded that the demand of the market price was rightly made in view of the government Memo No 5/245/952LGII/6195-96 issued on May 2, 1995, and as such the demand regarding the price was legal. However, the respondent admitted the allotment of the plot, but denied that any contempt had been committed or the possession of some other plot had been given.

The forum observed that according to the documents produced, Plot No 722-F was allotted to the consumer. The forum directed the respondent to execute the sale agreement and deliver the possession.

Ludhiana, November 6
It was a journey of ecstasy that took the audience along in the auditorium of GRD where Puran Chand Wadali and his brother Pyare Lal Wadali, popularly known brothers, performed for about two hours. They had come to perform under the on -going series of performing arts by famous artistes arranged by SPIC MACAY. The society aims to promote Indian classical music, art, and culture among the youth.

They got this name (Wadali brothers) after the village of their birth, Guru Ki Wadali, a small village near Amritsar. Wadali family has a rich tradition of gayaki. Their six generations have been in singing. They received their training from their father Thakur Chand, a Sufi singer of great repute. They have won many an award including an award from the President of America and Princess Diana.

These well-known Sufi singers enthralled the audience with their performance. They began the show by singing a ‘kafi’ by Baba Shah Hussein. They rendered the ‘sufi kalam’, ‘man beprahwa de naam attekeye beparwah. In this kalam they displayed the finesse of sufi singing.

The brothers had perfect synchronisation between themselves. At times one brother started the kalam and the other carried it forward. Never overlapping.

The second number was a composition of Peer Bulle Shah, ‘ghunghat chak le sajna’. Sufi music, through the medium of love for human beings, is the way of reaching to God. All songs revolved around this theme. They also sang a song from their album; Paigam-e-Ishq. This album of theirs is a fusion of contemporary music and traditional lyrics. It has been sung in Sufiana style. Their unique style of singing had the students clapping with the singers when they sang ‘Tu manne ya na manne, dildara assin tan tenu rab maneyaa’. The Sufi philosophy of reaching to God through love for human beings was brought out with great force.

Before rendering any song ,they explained, through a dialogue, the happenings in the song that made the students enjoy the song more. They were at their best when they sang their popular number, ‘Damadum mast kalandar, Ali da pehla number’. The piece de resistance of their performance was the soulful rendering of ‘Heer’ of Waris Shah. Thereafter the great music performance come to an end.

In reply to a student’s question, ‘who taught you singing?’, Puran Chand replied , “My father used to pull me by my hair and teach me singing. I got a chance to sing in a small village, Neeve Tung. The praise showered on me made me take up singing seriously”. Answering another question whether they teach singing, Puran Chand said, “Till date we have never refused to teach anyone. But after learning for a little while, students go away and start singing other songs. SPIC MACAY is doing a good job of making children aware of their rich heritage. But the TV channels showing pop music makes them forget their roots. We do believe that Sufi music is there to stay whereas pop music will fade away”.

Later talking to mediapersons, Puran Chand said that he was an illiterate and the most painful thing for him was that he was not able to converse with his fans abroad. Both brothers said in Sufi music there was no room for materialism. So why did they agree to have a cassette of theirs released? They said some officials of Zee Music had urged them to leave their voice for posterity. Pyare Lal said, “When we went to Mumbai for recording our songs for Zee Music, we had told them that there should be no girls in our videos. They left the choice of songs to us. We used only tabla and harmonium. It was only later that we discovered that they had added more music. Asked if they were going in for more albums, he said they had entered into a contract with Zee which would remain valid till February next and they would decide on this issue after the contract period was over.”